FRISK-GO has organised jointly with other partnering bodies the professional exchange for an interested organisation in order to gain experience for vegetation fire management in Northern Ireland

Through the active support FRISK-GO has mobilised a strategic partner organisation in Northern Ireland potentially being an active collaborator and contributor in a future European Forest Risk Facility.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) participated in a professional exchange to South Africa´s Working on Fire Programme WoF. This exchange was organised jointly between the FRISK GO project, WoF South Africa and WoF Europe, the Pau Costa Foundation and the UK Wildfire Group.

The forest fire study tour and practical training has been completed. Here is a brief list of activities.

1. Attended a prescribed burn in a difficult area burning old dry reeds.

2. Met with the FPO (Fire Protection Officer) of Mpumalanga Umbrella Fire Protection Association who briefed on Aerial Support, FDI's (Fire Danger Index) and FPA's (Fire Protection Associations), integrating land users through the establishment of multi-stakeholder FPAs.

3. Flew in a spotter plane at a fire where they had aerial support and witnessed the actual co-ordination work of the spotter.

4. Visited the National WoF Training academy and got an overview of WoF training courses and fitness requirements.

5. Met with National Coordination and Dispatch who presented on Dispatch and Co ordination of ground and aerial resources across the country and interagency work with police, army, private contractors and land owners like forestry.

6.Visited Grasskop area and met with FPO of Grasskop FPA who presented on what he does in the wildland/urban interface and showed the extensive burns he has done in the Grasskop area to protect the local community. It is impressive what Grasskop FPA has achieved with the limited resources available.

7. Visited various sites to see results of fuel reduction burns in grasslands and Under Story Burning in commercial forestry plantations.

Coming from a structural fire service background Randy McComb (NIFRS) approached the wildland fire situation with a very open and inquiring mind and has left South Africa with a much better understanding of fuels and fire risk.

The exposure to the integrated fire management in South Africa provided Randy within a short time with valuable lessons and broadened his own capacity in developing and implementing vegetation fire management in Northern Ireland. Strategic Planning, Tactics, Decision Support, fuel management, wildland – urban interface WUI, tools and techniques in ground and aerial fire management were covered.

In terms of a Forest Risk Facilities vision, emphasis was made to discuss with Randy the cooperation with land users like forestry and agriculture as a prerequisite for integrated fire management.

These exchanges serve the knowledge and skill transfer, they “fast-track” own experience and inspire for action, support own decision making. Especially in a situation like the UK, exchanges can help to avoid repeating mistakes (that others made before) and to develop a countries vegetation fire management in exchange with experts worldwide. Furthermore they are building mutual trust and respect, grow the network and prepare in peace time for action in an assistance situation.

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